The Chase crew welcomes new host Larry Emdur with open arms

Word from the set of Channel 7’s The Chase is that the arrival of new host Larry Emdur is proving to be a hit with the show’s crew and network management.

The past few months has seen a change of city and the high-profile change of host for Seven’s top-rated quiz staple The Chase.

Word from the set of the long-running afternoon game show is that the arrival of Larry Emdur is proving to be a hit with the show’s crew as well as network management.

New host of The Chase Larry Emdur.

Emdur replaced the embattled former host Andrew O’Keefe after the latter was charged for allegedly assaulting his partner in January.

According to insiders, which include both production and technical crew, Emdur has been operating like a “pro” since his arrival early last month, with his episodes set to begin airing in the coming weeks once the backlog of O’Keefe-helmed shows has been cleared.

Former host Andrew O’Keefe.

It comes several months after the show relocated from Melbourne to Sydney due to budget constraints.

And since the relocation, the production, which once suffered regular delays, is a “well-oiled machine” says one crew member, who claims the program’s previous schedule would often run several hours over time and see crew working until 3am.

“It’s like chalk and cheese,” said the on-set source.

“Most shoot days we are wrapping at 7pm. That was unheard of before. Those delays cost production a fortune in time and money.

“But that’s all changed now. And it’s like a different show,” the network source said.

When contacted, a Seven spokesman declined to comment on the reports filtering from the set, saying only: “We’re still too far out for this one, so we’re not doing any interviews at the moment.”

O’Keefe was sighted out in public this week for the first time since two new domestic violence charges were laid against him. He was snapped outside exclusive rehabilitation centre, the Sydney Clinic, where he has been undergoing outpatient treatment.

His lawyers have flagged they would apply to have the original charge dealt with under mental health grounds.

The court previously heard O’Keefe would plead guilty to the original charge if his mental health application failed.